I have a dear friend who went to a signing once for someone we are both in to. I couldn't get there myself, it was too far away, but she told me all the details. She said she was waiting in line for her turn, thinking about what she might say and eventually decided on a few well chosen words. However, when it came to it and she was standing in front of him, she was struck dumb! She said her mouth went dry and she was left gawping like a fool (her words). She was mortified!

She has been able to make up for it since, thank God, and I have also met the person as well and discovered that not all stars are in the least 'starry'. I'm sure Andy is very down to earth.

I have a dear friend who went to a signing once for someone we are both in to. I couldn't get there myself, it was too far away, but she told me all the details. She said she was waiting in line for her turn, thinking about what she might say and eventually decided on a few well chosen words. However, when it came to it and she was standing in front of him, she was struck dumb! She said her mouth went dry and she was left gawping like a fool (her words). She was mortified.

That was like me in dunblane, I had things I wanted to say but when it came to crunch time all I could do was grab his hand and say well done. Maybe this time I will be more composed..... But I doubt it

15 OCTOBER 2013Prince William is apparently feeling "a bit nervous" ahead of his first ever investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Calming his jitters, then, will be the fact he's due to hand out an OBE to his and Kate's favourite tennis players – Andy Murray.

The Scottish sportsman is one of several personalities who will be honoured in the ceremony on Thursday, when William stands in for his grandmother the Queen. In doing so, the 31-year-old is taking his first major step towards being a working royal.

A royal source said: "William has been practising using the sword and pinning the medals on a servant so that he gets it right.

"He obviously doesn't want to slice anyone's ear off or stick a pin into their chest!"

The Prince will dub with a sword to create two new knights and will also pin a medal onto Vicar of Dibley producer Jon Plowman."

He realises this is the biggest day in the lives of some people who are being honoured, and he wants it to go well for them," continues the royal aide.

"His biggest challenge is being tall – it's not easy to stoop down and talk to some of the smaller recipients and to pin the honours on."

The Queen is understood to have asked William several months ago if he would start performing investitures, to which he immediately agreed.

The Prince – who left operational military service in September – wants to ease slowly into increasing his royal duties, so he does each one well without rushing into his new role as a working royal.

William and Kate have supported tennis ace Andy during several important matches during his career.

But the Duke will have to resist temptation to stay chatting to the 26-year-old sportsman after pining on his medal – he must keep to the allotted time of 30 seconds conversing with each recipient to avoid the ceremony overrunning.

He has a choice of three uniforms – army, navy and air force – to choose from for the hour-long ceremony. Prince Charles – who regularly stands in for his mother – usually wears his Royal Navy suit.

Thursday's ceremony is one of around 25 which are held annually at venues including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh and sometimes even abroad.